tawa

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tawa
Pronunciation	/ˈta.wa/ (listen)
Usage	2023: Core (100% ↗ ) 2022: Core (99%)
Book and era	nimi pu
Part of speech	Content word, preposition
Codepoint	󱥩 U+F1969

tawa is a core content word and preposition relating to motion, direction, purpose, and perspective.

Etymology

The word tawa is derived from English towards.

Semantic space

The semantic space of tawa includes motion and movement, going towards something, the perspective of an action, and its destination.

Preposition

As a preposition, tawa shows destination, direction, and perspective.

jan [jelo e sijelo uta] li lukin pana e sona tawa ona
jan Jesu li lukin pana e sona tawa ona.

Jesus sought to teach them (literally, "to give knowledge to them").

nasin ona li pona tawa mi　
nasin ona li pona tawa mi.

I like their way of doing things (literally, "their way of doing things is good to me").

Like all other prepositions, it can be used with an object as a predicate.

akesi li tawa ma ante　
akesi li tawa ma ante.

The lizard went to another place.

Content word

This section needs work:

tomo tawa mi, tawa vs. tawa e

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As a content word, tawa describes motion or movement.

palisa uta li tawa wawa　
palisa uta li tawa wawa.

The tongue moves quickly.

kon li tawa e lipu kasi lili　
kon li tawa e lipu kasi lili.

The wind moves the little leaves.

ilo tawa li tawa ma ante　
ilo tawa li tawa ma ante.

The vehicle (literally, "tool for motion") went to another place.

Preverb

This subject is nonstandard and may not be understood by most speakers.

mi tawa moku e kala　
mi tawa moku e kala.

I'll go eat seafood.

pu

In the "Official Toki Pona Dictionary" section, the book Toki Pona: The Language of Good defines tawa as:

PREPOSITION  going to, toward; for; from the perspective of
ADJECTIVE  moving

ku

For Toki Pona Dictionary, respondents in ma pona pi toki pona translated these English words as tawa:

move⁵81–100% of respondents, go⁵81–100% of respondents, toward⁵81–100% of respondents, motion⁵81–100% of respondents, movement⁵81–100% of respondents, towards⁵81–100% of respondents, to⁵81–100% of respondents, for⁵81–100% of respondents, transit⁴61–80% of respondents, travel⁴61–80% of respondents, transportation³41–60% of respondents, trip³41–60% of respondents, walk³41–60% of respondents, advance³41–60% of respondents, onto³41–60% of respondents, transport³41–60% of respondents, pass³41–60% of respondents, walking³41–60% of respondents, migration³41–60% of respondents, departure³41–60% of respondents, from the perspective of³41–60% of respondents, push³41–60% of respondents, march²21–40% of respondents, slide²21–40% of respondents, proceed²21–40% of respondents, forth²21–40% of respondents, drift²21–40% of respondents, according to²21–40% of respondents, mobile²21–40% of respondents, until²21–40% of respondents, transfer²21–40% of respondents, cross²21–40% of respondents, till²21–40% of respondents, approach²21–40% of respondents, forward²21–40% of respondents, momentum²21–40% of respondents, attend²21–40% of respondents, progress²21–40% of respondents

sitelen pona

The sitelen pona glyph for tawa represents two legs moving towards the right, following the direction of the text. It is derived from the leg radical, also used in the glyphs for awen and kama.